In the case of embargoes, this should be set in the software. However, I then wondered how we can determine what the embargo period should be. After all, publishers can then take a long time after acceptance to get the piece out and the embargo goes into effect from the time of publication.

I wrote to our repository manager to ask about our procedure at Lincoln and received the following:

Deposit the item and set visibility to repo staff only

Add note specifying embargo period

Notify repo manager at the time of publication

Of course, the easier way would be for HEFCE to specify that the embargo is from acceptance, which would incentivize publishers to get things out a little quicker...